Spring into Advocacy - Valerie's Voice (April)

It looks like the snow has finally ended and Spring is here! April has been a very busy and productive month, and I want to share with you some of what I have been doing on behalf of District 37 and the State of New Jersey.

I recently traveled over the now infamous George Washington Bridge to attend a Port Authority meeting to discuss ideas for reform. As a representative of Fort Lee and all of the District 37 towns that are impacted by the Port Authority, I have long advocated for more transparency and accountability at the bi-state agency. Two years ago, way before “it was time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee”, I sponsored legislation to make the Port Authority more open and honest about its operations. Now, I am again working with Senator Bob Gordon and New York legislators on comprehensive Port Authority reform legislation.

I also co-chaired this year’s Legislative Sleep Out hosted by Covenant House. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of homelessness, which disproportionately affects youth in New Jersey. Several of my fellow legislators and I spent an evening sleeping outside of the State House in Trenton and talking with youth who have experienced homelessness. For us, it was only one night. But for many New Jersey children, it is how they live. In the coming months, I will be working to address homelessness and youth poverty. No child or family should ever have to sleep on the street.

I am also pleased to share that I received the Legislative Award from the New Jersey Child Assault Prevention Project for my commitment to combating human trafficking and preventing bullying. New Jersey now has model laws in country on these issues, the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights and the Human Trafficking Prevention, Protection, and Treatment Act. I greatly appreciate NJCAP’s dedication to vulnerable youth in our state and I am so honored by their recognition.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to read about my work in Trenton and District 37 on behalf of our community. As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.